(Originally posted in 2010; then in 2015; and now 2018…
Several months ago I tried to come up with another term for “quiet time” or “devotions”; however, nothing ever came to me. Regardless of what term we call it, our daily time with the Lord is extremely special and crucial to our everyday walk with Him.
Personally, I like to picture Father waiting for me each morning, with great excitement and anticipation of my arrival. I often think of the reunion between a military member and his or her loved one at the airport – running into one another’s arms and embracing with great joy of being together once again. That should be our expectation for meeting with the Lord each and every day!
Once settled in our favorite place for the time spent with Him – the question can easily be asked, “Now what?” Here are some simple and creative ways to inject new life into our quiet time:
- Read the Word aloud – The Father loves to hear His words spoken back to Him!
- Write your prayers in a journal – not just prayer needs and requests, but whole sentences, just as you would pray.
- Pray aloud – keeps us on track and the devil HATES to hear us pray – give him something to worry about!
- My friend Lyli suggests praying, “Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see wonderful things in Your Word.”
- Softly play worship music that is conducive to intimacy.
- Have a daily prayer focus. For example: Monday – pray for your pastor or priest, church leadership, and all the prayer concerns that were brought to your attention the day before. Tuesday – pray for the country, the government and its leaders, including state and local leadership. Wednesday – pray for foreign and local missions, missionaries, the persecuted church and any ministries that you personally support. Thursday – pray for specific needs in your immediate family and marriages that are suffering setbacks. Friday – pray for businesses and work situations of those you know are having difficult times. Saturday and Sunday – pray as the Spirit leads about everything and anything.
- Select a devotional which truly ministers to you – there are thousands to choose from. Seek recommendations from believers that you look up to and those that you know have a strong personal relationship with God.
If it has been a while since having a personal devotion time, don’t dive in and declare that ‘you are going to start spending two hours with the Lord every morning.’ Take baby steps – find your perfect meeting place (comfy chair in the den or at the kitchen table) and meet with Him – simply talk to the Lord, share with Him your heart and let His soothing balm (of Gilead) pour over you and surround you with His joy and pleasure of spending time with you – over the next weeks and months you will come to realize that God is the very air you breathe and the only bread that truly sustains.
(This was first posted in 2010 – republishing to remind myself!!!)
This week I’ll be linking up with:
- Inspire Me Monday
- Glimpses of His Beauty
- God Sized Dreams
- Jennifer Dukes Lee
- Tea and Word
- Seeking God
- Porch Stories
- Coffee for Your Heart
- Tune In Tuesday
- Heart Encouragement
- Dance With Jesus
- Fresh Market Friday
- Thought Provoking Friday
- Counting My Blessings
Love this encouragement, Susan! I feel so good through out the day when I get my time with Him. I like the idea of having a daily prayer focus.
Christina, you stopping by encourages me! Thanks!
Susan, I loved loved loved this post. Joe works from home and I’m having trouble finding a rhythm of “doing life” that works for us both but a couple of weeks ago I discovered praying aloud. And I mainly started it because when I pray to myself I find I’m easily distracted and, instead of sharing my heart with the Lord or listening to Him, I was thinking about grocery lists and such. So I thought I’d pray aloud as if I were having a conversation with my best friend. After all, am I not? Oh, and it has been so changing and beautiful!
I’m going to try some of your other tips, as well, including reading the Word aloud and writing prayers in a prayer journal. I have trouble with devotionals. I’ve not found one yet that digs in as far as my heart wants to go. I’m sure they’re out there; I just haven’t found them.
Shelby, thanks for confirming all of that!!! Sent you an email about devotionals!
What a great reminder for us all. I love the Prayer apps on my phone because they help me to focus who/what etc I am going to pray for on a particular day. I love the image of God welcoming us with open arms.
Tara, I love that image too!
Hi Susan, sometimes these reminders are much needed not only for others but also for us.
Thanks for sharing.
God Bless
Oh yes, Ifeoma, I was preaching to the choir (myself!)!!!
Good truths here, Mimi. I keep a simple prayer journal and have different people and needs for each day of the week, and Saturday is praises from the week.
I especially like the coffee cup pic with steam coming off of it. That’s how I do mine – steaming cup of joe in one hand, the Word in the other! 🙂
Yes’m Gigi, that’s the way we roll. YSFAM
I NEEDED to read this today………..thank you for re-posting it.
Love,
Kathy
SO DID I!
You know I love this post!
XO
Tammy
I kind of thought you would!!! Your ♥
Yep, some posts bear repeating, don’t they, Susan! Thanks for this gentle nudge to get serious about our devotional life. Sadly, blogging too often pushes that sacred time with God to the side.
I’m keeping an eye on my intentions and my obedience. Thanks for encouraging me in that direction.
New Year’s Blessing to you …
Sadly, tis true. But let’s keep one another accountable!!!
Great reminder for the new year!
Being in ministry, I doubt you have this prob? You are probably in The Word every single day!!!
Love these suggestions. I would also add… ‘Give yourself grace.’ We’re often quick to be ourselves up and slink away in defeat when we miss our quiet time or fall asleep while praying. God isn’t a task master or a harsh judge. So when you falter, don’t be hard on yourself… just jump back in and keep going! Thanks.
Always and all ways, GRACE. Thank you for adding that!
Wise words, Susan. As our group of guys says – “nailed it!”
Hello and Happy New Year Susan! Since I missed this post during its first two runs, I’m happy to read it fresh and new 🙂 and especially love the tip to take baby steps in reading. Every new habit takes time to get used to, doesn’t it? And if you get off-course, get right back on — God’s there waiting for us! xoxo
He surely is, Valerie…will visit your online home in the morning! xo
Happy New Year, Susan! I love all your fresh suggestions! One thing I enjoy doing is writing out verses word-for-word. Sometimes there’s something that speaks to my heart when I’m writing it out.
I like to do that too!
Susan, all wonderful suggestions. And no matter which we begin to implement, when we choose to meet with God and intentionally make time for Him, He blesses us beyond our expectations. Happy New Year, friend! xo
He always meets us, doesn’t He?
Such a great reminder. When I forget my quiet time my life doesn’t seem to have the right rhythm.
Feels like something is missing it, doesn’t it?
Love this! This is a great reminder for me when I do my Praise, worship, and studying his word. We all need our time with Our Sweet Abba.
Yes, we do.
Love these, my friend. I would add, “Start by saying a simple prayer inviting God to speak to you.” This makes all the difference. I often pray, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Happy New Year to you!
OH yes of course – I need to add that. xo
These are great tips, Susan! And I like the thought of God eagerly waiting to meet with us each day!
Changes my attitude when I think of Him waiting for me. Not that I could disappoint Him but just knowing He eagerly waits. xo
You inspired me on fb to read through so I found Mark’s old One Year Bible and I’m praying, journaling and reading my way through. Made it so far! xxx
YAY! I’m going through again this year. Thematically.
Hi Susan!! I love your tips and especially like the prayer focus for each day of the week. I hadn’t thought of that. Blessings in 2018!
Charlene, thanks for coming by!
Great post, Susan! I like the idea of having certain things to pray for each day, repeating each week. We can still pray each day as the Lord leads, but it’s nice to have a day for focusing on things we might forget otherwise.
Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #TrekkingThru this week. Love you! xo
It’s a great way to get “all the bases covered.” Thanks, Gayl.
I saw the title to your post and even before reading, I was shouting “yes!!” My desire is to definitely rev up my personal time with the Lord and I love the list of tips you shared. Thank you!
Lureta — happy dance time. SO glad you found it helpful! Thanks for coming by – Love new visitors.
My morning time with God is the best part of waking up each day! Thank you for the tips for refreshing that time with God! I’ve been reading and studying the Psalms for over a year now. I’ve learned a lot.